The Delhi Government's Public Works Department ( PWD) has cancelled the allotment of a bungalow to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's private secretary Bibhav Kumar.  Kumar is currently residing at D-II, Type-VI, Chandrawal Water Works-II, Civil Lines. In August,  the Directorate of Vigilance (DoV) has directed the PWD to stick to house allotment rules and allot only the mandated category of quarters i.e., Type IV to Kumar after cancelling the Type VI bungalow currently allocated to him “illegally”.

“The  Competent Authority has accorded approval for cancellation of the allotment of government accommodation No. D-II, Type-VI, Chandrawal Water Works-II, Civil Lines, Delhi allotted to Bibhav Kumar, PS to Hon'ble CM, which was two categories above his entitlement of a Type-IV government accommodation, as per extant rules. Kumar is hereby informed to hand over the possession of government accommodation No. D-II, Type-V1, Chandrawal Water Works-II, Civil Lines, Delhi to the area JE, PWD concerned,” the PWD’s deputy secretary (allotment) said in its order.  The department has asked Kumar to intimate the preferred location of Type-IV government accommodation, for allotment as per his entitlement.

Earlier, the DoV observed that a Type VI bungalow has been allotted to Kumar illegally in violation of Delhi Allotment of Government Residences (General Housing Pool) Rules against Type IV accommodation for which he is eligible. The department on Wednesday also wrote a letter to the PWD secretary on the matter.

“The allotment of Type-V accommodation at Rajpur Road is void ab initio as per the extant rules. The proposal of regularising the Type-V accommodation was also not regularised by Hon’ble LG. Now therefore, the competent authority has directed that PWD may stick to the rules of allotment and allot only the entitled category of quarter i.e. Type-IV to Bibhav Kumar after cancelling the Type-VI bungalow allotted to him,” Buniyad Singh, assistant director, vigilance department, said in a lettet to PWD in August.

Last week, the DoV has issued a show-cause notice to Kumar, stating that his engagement is “illegal” and citing a pending criminal case against him. The case pertains to Kumar allegedly obstructing a public servant from discharging his duty and abusing/threatening him. As per the notice, Kumar was appointed by the government subject to the outcome of an FIR against him under Sections 353 (assault to deter public servant), 504 (insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), and 506 (intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.